India vs England: Century partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Akash Deep breaks 22-year-old record

With barely an over left for close of play on Day 2, Sai Sudharsan fell LBW to a sharp in-seamer from Gus Atkinson. Naturally, India sent in a nightwatchman to give Yashasvi Jaiswal and that man was Akash Deep. While the pacer is known to hit a few lusty blows down the order, not many expected him to last for long. Certainly not as long as he did on the third day, almost surviving the entire morning session.

There were plenty of lucky moments no doubt - inside edges to fence, outside edges past the fielders or dropped, but amidst all this, Akash showed grit and determination as he notched up his maiden fifty in Tests. Importantly, he set up a century stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal who looked much more solid on the third morning than he did in the evening session on Day 2. There were far lesser flashy strokes and the shot-selection from the left-hander was mostly on point. India's decision to take the heavy roller before start of play paid off handsomely with both Jaiswal and Akash negotiating England's seamers with aplomb.

According to Cricbuzz, the century stand between Akash and Jaiswal was the 18th three-figure partnership of this series, the most in any Test series in the last 25 years of the longest format. India's tour of Australia in 2003-04 produced 17 century stands and it was a record that stood for long, until the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. The flat nature of pitches in this series has been a talking point, more so with the Dukes ball getting softer way too soon. While all these are logical points, the batting from both sides has also been of high quality with some terrific knocks on display. Also, this century stand from Akash and Jaiswal might be among the finest in the series, given the spicy nature of The Oval pitch.

The injury to Chris Woakes meant that the hosts are a bowler down and that also played a part with England's seam attack lacking in the control that Woakes often provides. Jamie Overton, who was picked to do a support seamer act, had to now do a frontline pacer's job and unlike his twin brother Craig, Jamie isn't quite a specialist seam bowler although he can surely be handy. As the effect of the roller weared off gradually, there was a bit more seam movement on offer and extra bounce but England's pacers weren't disciplined enough to make merry.

The hosts finally got rid of Akash just around the lunch break but it was still a session pocketed by India. The tourists have a well-set Jaiswal at the crease and the in-form Shubman Gill for company. The Indian captain has already made his intentions clear with a deft square cut and a crisp cover drive for boundaries.

At lunch on Day 3, India lead by 166 with seven wickets left in the tank.